Lake Worth sets tax rate, but plans are to lower it later

LAKE WORTH — City commissioners approved a tentative tax rate in a 4-1 vote Thursday that raises the same total amount from city property owners as this year's rate.

When setting the tentative property tax rate of $6.42 per $1,000 of taxable value, commissioners noted that they hope to trim the budget enough to end up with the current tax rate of $4.99 per $1,000 taxable value when the final rate is adopted in September.

Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill cast the lone vote against the tentative tax rate, saying she wanted to hold it at $4.99 from the beginning of the budget cycle.

"We have difficult financial times in the city," Mulvehill said. "We don't even need to be tinkering with the idea of raising taxes."

Other commissioners disagreed.

Commissioner Scott Maxwell emphasized that even at the $6.42 rate, the city would not raise any more money from property owners for the budget year that begins Oct. 1 than it did this year. That's because total value of city property fell 23 percent, to $1.1 billion.

City property owners also must pay a tax to Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. The tentative fire-tax rate is $3.58 per $1,000 taxable value. The fire-tax rate and the city's tentative tax rate add up to $10 per $1,000 taxable value, the maximum rate allowed by state law.

The city has tentatively scheduled budget workshops for Aug. 9, Aug. 16 and Aug. 18. The commission is scheduled to adopt the final operating budget and tax rate Sept. 22.